Royce White refuses assignment to D-League (UPDATE: Rockets suspend him)

I wish we could see the actual contract between Royce White + Rockets. I'm not sure if it would be something with standard language that all 1st round draft picks and NBA teams have with a little bit more added to fit it to what the Rockets staff/owner wants + what Royce's agent wanted at the time.

I'd be interested in reading it to see to what extent any "Mental health" precautions were discussed and to what extent the Rockets need to oblige (what i believe to be) a long drawn out charade. There's only so much treatment that can be administered by mental health professionals. The actual patient has to be willing to accept the treatment internally and take part in wanting to change. Now we have the ultimate, "I have it, i know i have it, you can't prove it, no one can prove it but me and i get to decide what i want now" power move. He better have a damn good attorney or else he's done more then enough to have cause for suspension and I think that's just 1 step away from eventual termination. Unless he's trying to angle at some larger big picture lawsuit against the NBA for not having proper "protocol" in place for athletes with mental issues, and somehow failing to meet ADA standards.

 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRUS6QBiViQ

Watching this video again, (first time was when we drafted him) and it kills me to see it. I had so much hope for Royce and now i just feel ****ty about how it panned out. 2 main quotes in this video that stand out to me..

1. "My doctor told me when i was 18, she looked at me in the face and said, you know what? basketball may not be whats best for you because this industry is built to defeat somebody like you. but i want people to see that you can deal with your disorder and chase your dreams."

What he is doing now isn't dealing with it, he is losing the battle with his disorder and letting it ruin something that would allow him to make a change in the world. He is talented enough to become a good player and then people would listen but he won't trust the rockets at all.

2. "they took a chance on me, they didn't have too. That says something about people..."

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TOO. Yes Royce they took a chance, (especially Mchale) they trusted you and believed in you so maybe you should take a chance and trust that the Rockets just want whats the best for you. You have to trust them and take a chance like they did for you.

 

Your welcome to your opinion of the situation. If you disagree with me, fine. But don't pretend to know my profession or my personal knowledge in regards to mental illness.

Its tiring reading comments like yours that assumes to know what someone else does. As it turn out, its perfectly in accordance with mental illness for those affected to convince themselves of most of their fears. Its one of the determining criteria for diagnosing mental illness in the first place (self delusions).

 

^ good find.

It's the strangest thing.

I'm no expert in employment law, but if your health issue really keeps you from performing the minimal requirements of your job, I think the employer is justified in either not hiring you or terminating your contract, once "reasonable accommodations" have been attempted. Isn't that true?

I'm trying to think of a good analogy, but am having trouble. The draft and NBA rookie contracts aren't exactly analogous to much in the rest of the work world, that I know about anyway.

Also, UGH.

 

White was being paid up until the suspension. he was incurring fines since mid November every day he was away from team.

now he ain't getting a paycheck.

 

This is what I hinted on earlier - as long as the Rockets/NBA (not sure how that whole thing is set up with players associations, etc) have followed the ADA guidelines (which I would assume covers mental as well as physical disability) and aren't discriminating against Royce in treatment or for seeking treatment, but rather are looking to suspend/terminate him for refusing to do what he's contractually obligated to do, then they're justified in terminating the contract. They've made (what seems on the surface) all attempts at reasonable accommodations. Unless Royce can point to something specific, his new "protocol" that he may want implemented would be better served in a courtroom setting for overall ADA/mental health law expansion to cover this "protocol" then the fight he's putting up now against the Rockets.

Retire from the league. Fight your battle in court. If you truly believe this is your cause, that you're an #AnxietyTrooper, go to war for the rest of your Troopers and change the law to cover people in your situation.

 

That's certainly the case where I work. We do our best to make reasonable accommodations, and much more, because they're human beings not assets. Unfortunately, sometimes a parting of ways is what's necessary and best for everyone concerned.

I can think of a number of large companies which make a conscious and active choice to make positions available to people with disabilities. Walmart for one, and Blockbuster (before they went bankrupt), make accommodations on a store by store basis. I think it's a nice reflection of the caring side of our society.

The Rockets do lots of things to give back to the community, and they seem to care tremendously about all their employees, not just the players. But operating as a professional sports team has its own unique set of operating constraints, and it appears to me that Royce's advisors didn't properly prepare him for the challenges that he would face given his needs. It's all very sad.

 

Key words being "reasonable accommodations". If Royce is really trying to force regular playing time with the Rockets, and at this point, I am assuming this is what this is about, then I can't see how any court would find that to be reasonable at all.

If a court ruled in Royce's favor, it would completely turn the sport's world upside down with regards to the structure of a team and how playing time is decided, which is why would never win in a court of law.

 

I would love to see this kid from the video succeed... But I can't stand that guy who's twittering all that bull...

Right now I think Royce is finding himself in a situation he can't come out of. With his disorder it will be real hard for him to get back to get in a room with all of his teammates - and I think it will be almost impossible for him to go out to the crowd of a real nba game after what backlash he is getting on twitter.

Protocol or whatever, that's only a shield - he is just finding out, that the NBA is too hazardous for him (to use his own words) - and no protocol will change that.

He is just more ill than any of us thought. It's a shame...

 

Welcome to Mcdonalds....may i take your order???? Nah ...but real talk....somebody said he babysits part time like for family and stuff...so thats good..ya know

 

Does anyone know where the hell Royce's agent and PR people are on this? The lack of management has been unbelievable, a good agent would never have allowed any of this to get to the point it has now. Good agents keep their crazy ass athelete's personalities bottled up with their mouth's shut. It's not good business, not good for your client to lose leverage in any negotiation when they're just shooting everything that comes to mind out in 140 characters or less.

What's the godfather quote....Michael Corleone to Vinny Mancini, "Never let anyone know what you are thinking."

 

Kind of hard for an agent to control what his player posts on social media man... unless the agent can gain control of the players accounts/passwords

 

In this day and age though, it's almost a necessity for an agent to have PR people in place that handle his athlete's twitter accounts. Most major celebrities and musicians have the same. It's a precaution to legal entanglements that may result from your client oversharing and then possibly costing your client future money or current money.

 

This is what I've been thinking all along. And why would RW's doctor not also recommend a health protocol which does not include the challenges posed by playing in the NBA? Everyone around him should have been saying "now is not the time to declare for the draft!"

 

NICE TRY Carl! You crapped on Morris before but who is in the starting lineup now. Not saying much but you were wrong before.

 

If I were the Rockets, I would post armed guards at the practice facility and at Toyota Center. I think there is a good chance White will go postal.

 

in my opinion, there are plenty of celebrities these days controlling their own twitter accounts- and dealing with the controversies that come with it, themselves.

a good PR agent or handler would simply tell his or her client to stay away from the twitter- something White obviously doesn't have or isn't listening to.

lol If I'm @Dmorey I would dare the guy to tweet at me again.

 

not really. wasn't a fan of his game and the biggest joke right now.
#ShouldNOT have drafted that guy in the first place

 

Harris gets paid in China at the very least. Is working hard

 

You crap on Royce White so he will be a starter next season.